Local Authorities: Broadband Data Transmission

Lord Tanlaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of local authorities use broadband data transmission services in Scotland, England and Wales.

Lord Whitty: The department does not collect details about the percentage of local authorities that use broadband data transmission services. The issue of the percentage of local authorities which use broadband data transmission services in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly.

Prime Minister's Adviser on Crime

Lord Northbrook: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by the Prime Minister on 24 July 2000 that Lord Birt would be working closely with a number of Ministers, on how many occasions since then Lord Birt has met (a) the Home Secretary, (b) the Lord Chancellor and (c) the Attorney-General to discuss crime.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: As part of his work, Lord Birt has met the Attorney-General once, the Home Secretary twice and other Home Office Ministers of State.

Prime Minister's Adviser on Crime

Lord Northbrook: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Lord Birt has received any pay or expenses for his service as the Prime Minister's adviser on crime.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Lord Birt is an unpaid adviser. He has received just over £300 in out-of-pocket expenses.

Prime Minister's Adviser on Crime

Lord Northbrook: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the cost of any office accommodation or office support provided to the Prime Minister's adviser on crime, Lord Birt.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Lord Birt has made periodic use of meeting rooms in the Cabinet Office and 10 Downing Street to see criminal justice organisations. One member of Cabinet Office staff has been employed part-time providing administrative support to Lord Birt's work. It is not possible to calculate the marginal attributable costs of this support.

Prime Minister's Adviser on Crime

Lord Northbrook: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	From which departments the Prime Minister's adviser on crime, Lord Birt, has had access to government papers; and whether they included papers submitted to the Prime Minister or calculated by, or within, the Prime Minister's office, on any subjects other than crime.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Lord Birt has had access to papers from the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Crown Prosecution Service and Customs and Excise. He has not seen papers on subjects outside his brief.

Police Stations: Broadband Data Transmission Services

Lord Tanlaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of police stations have access to broadband data transmission services and have computer literate officers to operate them in Scotland, England and Wales.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Our understanding of a broadband service is one which provides the capacity for multiple users to transmit and receive simultaneously. The broader the band, the greater the number of users and data capacity which individuals can use. Using that definition, it is possible to say that 40 per cent of police force or divisional headquarters in England and Wales currently have access to broadband data transmission services through the Criminal Justice Extranet (CJX). The plans are to extend the service to 100 per cent of forces in England and Wales by March 2002. None of the Scottish forces has CJX access yet but they plan to take the service when their funding is in place. The staff who access CJX services are or will be trained and computer literate.
	The CJX broadband service provides the potential to access the Internet. Forces will decide themselves whether to take this facility and whether to extend the facility to police stations or to individual police officers. The degree of access will also depend on the capability of their own force systems and networks.
	The Airwave project is currently piloting a digital radio network service which will be capable of handling data transmissions within the next three months. Airwave will make data accessible by individual police officers through their radio handsets or vehicle terminals, as well as through control rooms. Officers will be fully trained in the use of Airwave.

Asylum Decisions

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people who applied for asylum before 1 July 1996 and between 1 July 1996 and 31 December 1998 have not yet had a decision.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the total number of applications awaiting an initial decision is published monthly on the webpage: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The provisional number of applications awaiting an initial decision at the end of March 2001 was 36,390.

Crime Strategy: Lord Birt's Role

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 28th March (WA 42) to a Question tabled by Lord Tebbit did not answer that Question; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 28 March (WA 42), whether it is no longer their intention to fulfil the undertaking given by Lord Bassam on 31 January (H.L. Deb., col. 686) that the advice given and conclusions reached by Lord Birt in his role as adviser on crime would be reported to Parliament.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: As my previous Answer of 28 March made clear, Lord Birt's advice and conclusions were one of the inputs reflected in the Government's strategy document Criminal Justice: The Way Ahead (Cm 5074). That document was published and placed before Parliament on 26 February 2001.

Immigration Controls

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 1 May (WA 258-59), how they and the Immigration Service will define and identify a member of the Roma ethnic group for the purpose of the authorisation permitting the Immigration Service to discriminate against members of this ethnic group; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 1 May (WA 258-59), how they and the Immigration Service intend to define and identify whether a person is a ''Tamil'' for the purpose of the authorisation permitting the Immigration Service to discriminate against members of this ethnic group; and whether they include in this definition Tamils from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Canada, the United Kingdom and elsewhere; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 1 May (WA 258-59), what are the particular adverse consequences for members of each ethnic group identified in the authorisation permitting the Immigration Service to discriminate on the grounds of ethnic or national origin in the examination of passengers made on 1 May; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 1 May (WA 258-59), what is the precise nature of the discrimination on the basis of ethnic or national origin by the Immigration Service in the examination of passengers which is permitted by authorisation made on 1 May; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 1 May (WA 258-59), whether they will identify the particular risks posed to the effective operation of immigration controls by each of the following: Tamils, Kurds, Pontic Greeks, Roma, Somalis, Albanians, Afgans and ethnic Chinese presenting a Malaysian or Japanese passport or any other travel document issued by Malaysia or Japan.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Immigration Service staff will take into account a combination of different indicators in identifying relevant ethnic or national groups for the purpose of operating the immigration control in accordance with the authorisation announced on 1 May. These will include language or dialect spoken, geographical origin, pattern of travel and, where relevant, the passenger's apparent lineage. In some cases, the passenger's ethnic or national origin will be known from intelligence received or from statements made by the passenger. In other cases it may become apparent from answers to routine questions posed at the control or on the landing card. The authorisation will be used by officials responsibly and with due care. The authorisation applies to passengers of Tamil ethnic or national origin, irrespective of their nationality, because of the wide range of national travel documents used in attempted illegal entry by some members of this group and because of the attempted abuse of asylum provisions by those persons purporting to be fleeing persecution in Sri Lanka who are in fact nationals of other countries.
	The particular adverse consequences for passengers in the groups covered by the authorisation are that they may be delayed at the immigration control longer than other persons in the same circumstances and may have conditions attached to their leave to enter or temporary admission. Where a passenger in one of the groups concerned meets the requirements of the Immigration Rules, this delay might only be a matter of minutes or there may be no delay at all if the immigration officer does not consider that a closer examination is necessary.
	The authorisation provides that an immigration officer may, in respect of the groups covered by the authorisation, by reason of a passenger's ethnic or national origin subject them to a more rigorous examination than other person in the same circumstances. The officer may exercise powers under Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971, namely: requiring someone to submit to further examination; requiring them to furnish information and documents; examining and detaining their documents; searching them; detaining them pending further examination; and granting temporary admission.
	The officer may impose a condition or restriction on someone's leave to enter or their temporary admission. They may also decline to give someone notice of grant or refusal of leave to enter in a form permitted by Part III of the Immigration (Leave to Enter and Remain) Order 2000.
	In assessing the risk to the control posed by the groups listed in the authorisation, my honourable friend the Home Office Minister of State (Mrs Roche) has taken into account statistical evidence and other intelligence material. Statistical data are not held on Tamils as an ethnic group, but Sri Lankans of non-Tamil ethnic origin do not constitute a significant threat to the immigration control. In 2000, there were 3,592 inadequately documented arrivals by Sri Lankans in the United Kingdom: 91 of these cases involved false passports, 44 cases involved false or no visa and 39 cases involved impersonation. In 2000, there were 1,733 and 3,086 inadequately documented arrivals from Iraq and Turkey respectively. Asylum statistics confirm that Kurds comprise the vast majority of irregular migrants arriving in the United Kingdom from those countries. In 2000, the Immigration Service encountered 204 cases of Greek passport abuse, many involving nationals of the Former Soviet Union. In 2000, the Immigration Service detected 223 attempts to enter the United Kingdom using forged or counterfeit passports by nationals of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. Asylum statistics confirm that Roma comprise the vast majority of irregular migrants arriving in the United Kingdom from those countries. In 2000, there were 1,099 inadequately documented arrivals from Somalia and 2,654 the previous year. In 1999, there were 1,993 inadequately documented Albanian arrivals, although the figure declined in 2000. In 2000, the Immigration Service detected 92 cases involving abuse of Japanese travel documents and 84 cases involving abuse of Malaysian travel documents in total. Chinese nationals seeking to circumvent the immigration control have been most commonly identified using these and, to a lesser degree, other documents.

Asylum Applicants: Language of Explanatory Notes

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, and if so why, they consider that the Race Relations (Immigration and Asylum) Authorisation 2001, in providing that information need not be made available to asylum applicants in a language which they understand, is compatible with the United Kingdom's obligations to provide a hearing for such applicants under the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government believe that the authorisation is entirely compatible with the United Kingdom's obligations under the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights. The authorisation relates to the translation of the explanatory notes accompanying the asylum Statement of Evidence Form (SEF) into over 30 languages currently used by the majority of asylum applicants. We are confident that most applicants will have knowledge of one of the languages in which the document is being made available. If the linguistic profile of languages used by asylum applicants changes, the need for additional translations will be of course considered. It would be impractical and prohibitively expensive to provide translations in every dialect and language which might be encountered.

Immigration Controls: Discrimination on Grounds of Ethnicity

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 1 May (WA 258-259), whether they consider that discrimination on grounds of ethnic origin in the examination of passengers and in the granting of leave to enter into the United Kingdom as permitted in the Race Relations (Immigration and Asylum) (No. 2) Authorisation 2001 is contrary to Article 26 of the United Nations International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights; and, if so, what are their reasons for this opinion; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 1 May (WA 258-259), why they consider that any particular risks posed to the effective operation of immigration controls by members of the ethnic groups against whom discrimination is permitted by the Race Relations (Immigration and Asylum) (No. 2) Authorisation 2001 cannot be countered by heightened scrutiny of passengers from the relevant countries on the grounds of their nationality and country of origin, as distinct from their ethnicity.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government do not believe that this authorisation is contrary to Article 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Decisions on a passenger's entitlement to enter or remain in the United Kingdom will continue to be taken on the merits of each individual case in accordance with the Immigration Rules. Therefore, any discrimination will be in the procedure by which the decision is taken. Like Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 26 must be read as prohibiting discrimination in circumstances where this is not justified. Procedural discrimination in the operation of the immigration control is fully justifiable in the circumstances covered by the authorisation, and does not breach Article 26.
	Sole reliance on the nationality authorisation in respect of the examination of passengers would result in additional unnecessary delay for passengers in other groups not covered by the authorisation, reducing the speed and efficiency of the on-entry control.

Standford Hill Prison: Board of Visitors

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the report by the Prisons Ombudsman into the circumstances of the Triennial Review at Standford Hill Prison at the end of 1999; whether they are now going to confirm the reappointment of the two members of the Board of Visitors who have been waiting to hear about their status for 16 months; and how many members there are on the Board of Visitors at this prison.[HL2080].

Lord Bassam of Brighton: There are no plans to publish the report by the Prisons Ombudsman into events surrounding the Board of Visitors at Standford Hill prisons. The Minister for Prisons and Probation, Mr Boateng, will be writing very shortly to the two former members of that Board who were not reappointed at the end of 1999. There are currently nine members of the Board of Visitors at this prison.

Police Complaints Authority

Baroness Billingham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What appointments to the Police Complaints Authority have been made since 1 March.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We have recently appointed Mr Ian Bynoe to the second position of Deputy Chairman of the authority. His appointment is for two years with effect from 1 May 2001.
	Ian Bynoe has served as a member of the authority since 1998, both reviewing investigations and disciplinary proceedings and supervising investigations. He comes from a legal background and, prior to joining the authority, he was a self-employed policy researcher and legal trainer.
	Also, we have appointed five new full-time members to the Police Complaints Authority. Their appointments will be for three years. The five new members are:
	
		
			 Name Start Date Previous Position 
			 David Petch 5 March 2001 Ministry of Defence, with attachments to Northern Ireland Office and Cabinet Office 
			 Diane Hughes 2 April 2001 Senior Lecturer in law at Manchester University 
			 Deborah Glass 2 April 2001 Chief Executive of the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation 
			 Susan Swindell 2 April 2001 Senior Crown Prosecutor 
			 Lionel Pilkington 2 April 2001 Senior Crown Prosecutor

Police Complaints System: Review

Baroness Billingham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they will take to ensure that the developments of a new police complaints system takes account of the lessons to be learned from Operation Lancet.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We published the Government's proposed framework for a new police complaints system in December 2000. In developing the new arrangements, we want to ensure that they are able to deal effectively and robustly with all cases, including those where the investigation may be complex and wide-ranging. My right honourable Friend the Home Secretary has therefore asked Sir John Hoddinott, former Chief Constable of Hampshire, to carry out a review with the following terms of reference:
	On behalf of the Home Secretary to conduct a review:
	To consider the functioning of the statutory constitutional arrangements for the investigation of corruption and other serious complaints against the police, including the roles of the Police Complaints Authority and the Crown Prosecution Service;
	To consider Operation Lancet as a case study of the way such an investigation is managed strategically and operationally, including as part of the study the process by which decisions were taken during that investigation, and the extent of resources and time used; and
	To make recommendations for the future investigation of police complaints.
	The review will consider the issues arising from the conduct and management of the investigation and will not reconsider any of the matters of substance which were the subject of the investigation. The review will not consider issues relating to the substance of allegations of misconduct about individuals or any such new allegations.
	Sir John Hoddinott will begin work this month.

Child Protection on the Internet

Baroness Billingham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the aims and objectives of the new task force on child protection on the Internet.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary met representatives from the industry involved in providing Internet services in the United Kingdom, children's charities, law enforcement agencies and others on 28 March 2001, where it was agreed to form a Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet.
	The Task Force is a partnership of representatives from: Internet Service Providers (ISP); retailers and manufacturers; children's charities; representatives from the main opposition parties; law enforcement agencies; and academics. It has the following aims and objectives: Aims:
	To make the United Kingdom the best and safest place in the world for children to use the Internet; and to help protect children the world over from abuse fuelled by criminal misuse of new technologies.
	Objectives:
	Building on current good practice, for industry involved in providing Internet services in the United Kingdom to promote ethical business standards across the industry;
	Building on existing co-operation, for law enforcement agencies and industry involved in providing Internet services in the United Kingdom to work together to develop effective procedures to prevent, detect and investigate crime on the Internet;
	For the Government to ensure that the law properly covers criminal activity on the Internet; and to consider, in co-operation with the industry involved in providing Internet services in the United Kingdom, the structure of co-regulation for the industry and whether it needs to be strengthened;
	Building on the recommendations of the Internet Crime Forum in its report Chatwise Streetwise for the industry involved in providing Internet services in the United Kingdom to offer services with effective safeguards for children.
	The work will be underpinned by a new public awareness campaign later this year and by government and industry leadership in international initiatives in the European Union and more widely.
	A copy of the full aims and objectives and list of organisations represented on the task force has been placed in the Library.

Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit

Lord Mason of Barnsley: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Who is responsible for the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit (PARBUL); under what terms they provide video recordings of debates and speeches in the House of Lords; who determines the price of debates or individual speeches; and what was the range of prices charged during each of the past five years.

Lord Tordoff: The Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit Ltd (PARBUL) is a limited company set up jointly by Parliament and the major broadcasters to organise and fund the televising of Parliament. The board of directors comprises representatives of the broadcaster shareholders matched in number by members and staff of both Houses, and chaired by the House of Commons Chairman of Ways and Means.
	Recordings of proceedings of the House of Lords are archived by Parliament's own Parliamentary Recording Unit, which is managed by the Supervisor of Parliamentary broadcasting, an Officer of both Houses. Videotape copies of these recordings are made available to broadcasters, commercial and educational organisations and for the personal use of Peers, MPs and private individuals at rates which reflect the length of recording required, the complexity of compilation tapes and the use to which the footage will be put. The "rate card" was recently revised for the first time in seven years. Increases were kept below the rate of inflation over that period.
	The rates charged in the five years to December 2000 ranged from a £10 minimum per videotape for Members to £120 an hour plus stock, management and licence fees for broadcasters. The current minimum cost for Members remains £10, with broadcaster rates set at a maximum of £100 plus VAT per 30 minutes. The broadcaster rate now includes stock and management fees but licence fees remain extra.

Export of Cultural Goods: Apulian Vases

Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the light of allegations in The Times of 23 April of looting and illegal export, they will automatically grant export licences for the Apulian vases recently sold at public auction in London at Christie's on 25 April; and whether they will enquire what mechanism they have for enforcing the European Council Regulation (3911/92) on the Export of Cultural Goods from this country in relation to antiquities orignating in Italy.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: It is a feature of our export licensing controls on cultural objects that Her Majesty's Government do not indicate in advance whether or not an export licence will be granted for a particular object. Nor can I comment about individual applications for export licences as the information given on applications is commerically sensitive and given in confidence. The Government cannot therefore reveal details about which objects are the subject of applications. To do so would be an unwarranted invasion of privacy contrary to Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
	Council Regulation (3911/92) on the export of cultural goods does not permit us to grant an export licence under the regulation for objects which have been despatched from another member state on or after 1 January 1993 unless the dispatch was lawful and definitive.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Reopening of Royal Deer Parks

Baroness Miller of Hendon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any ministerial or departmental direction was given to the Royal Parks Agency to reopen the Royal deer parks in London which had been closed as a foot and mouth disease precaution.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Ministerial direction was to adhere to MAFF advice. The decision to reopen these Royal Parks was taken jointly by officials of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Royal Parks Agency and Historic Royal Palaces in the light of information provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Reopening of Royal Deer Parks

Baroness Miller of Hendon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any meeting, e-mail or telephone contact took place between Mr. William Weston, the Chief Executive of the Royal Parks Agency, the Ministers or officials in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport or the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in the two weeks before the reopening on 11th April of the Royal deer parks in London that had been closed as a foot and mouth disease precaution; and what representations, if any, were made by Mr. Weston or the Royal Parks Agency for or against the reopening.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: In the two weeks before the reopening of the Royal Parks, the Chief Executive of the Royal Parks Agency and his deputy had one regular meeting with officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at which, amongst other things, the subject was discussed. During this period there were a number of telephone calls between Royal Parks officials and officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and on one occasion a call involving officials of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. During these discussions, the agency and officials agreed that they were keen to see the parks re-open but only when it was judged safe to do so.

Landfill Tax

Lord Northbrook: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 28 November 2000 to the House of Commons Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs that landfill tax will increase by £25 per tonne by 2004:
	(a) whether the increase will benefit local community projects exclusively or whether it will also be geared to general research, development and education on recycling;
	(b) what measures and financial support for local councils will be put in place to deal with any increase in fly-tipping and to meet the costs of councils in removing the waste; and
	(c) whether the Litter Act 1975 will be amended to remove the obligation on landowners to remove fly-tipped waste to official waste tips at their own expense.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: In speaking to the House of Commons Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, on 28 November 2000, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury confirmed the rises in landfill tax announced in Budget 1998. That is, the standard rate of Landfill Tax increased from £7 per tonne to £10 per tonne from 1 April 1999. It then rose by a further £1 per tonne in April 2000 and April 2001, and these annual £1 increases will continue until at least 2004. These rises are designed to make waste producers take account of the environmental costs they impose on society, encouraging efforts to minimise the amount of waste generated and to develop more sustainable forms of waste management such as recycling, composting and recovery.
	The Government are committed to meeting the challenging targets for waste recycling set out in Waste Strategy 2000. In the Pre-Budget Report 2000, we announced that we would explore how resources going through the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme could be better used to increase recycling rates. We have issued a challenge to the waste industry to meet demanding targets to allocate a greater proportion of tax credits towards sustainable waste management, and particularly recycling.
	Spending Review 2000, which set the framework for government support to local government, provided an increase of £1.1 billion by 2003-04 in the revenue support to local authorities for environmental, protective and cultural services, including their waste management function. Local authorities will set their own priorities for the use of these resources.
	Section 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 provides the Environmental Agency, and local authorities in their role as waste collection authorities, with powers to secure the removal of fly-tipped waste, and to recover their costs from those responsible. Owners or occupiers of land cannot be required to remove fly-tipped waste unless they deposited it themselves or knowingly caused or permitted its deposit.

Gross Domestic Product Estimates

Lord Lea of Crondall: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they published on 26 April sub-regional and local area estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) calculated solely on a workplace basis (as opposed to a residence basis), thereby giving the impression that GDP per head is two-and-a-half times the national average in Inner London; whether in future they will simultaneously issue residence-based figures; and what representations they have made to the European Commission to ensure that these figures are not misunderstood.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter to Lord Lea of Crondall from the National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales, Office for National Statistics, Mr Len Cook, dated 9 May 2001.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on sub-regional and local area estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (HL2050).
	GDP is a workplace-based concept, measuring the economic activity occurring within an area, regardless of whether the persons engaged in the activity actually live within the area. This is as required by the European System of Accounts 1995 (ESA95) regulation and conforms to the methods set out by Eurostat (the Statistical Office of the European Commission).
	GDP per head figures are then calculated by dividing the total GDP for an area by the resident population of that area. This is the indicator that has been used historically as a measure of the well-being of an area, in the absence of an alternative that is available for all member states.
	Ideally, the economic activity of an area should be described by relating GDP to a measure of the volume of work (hours worked or full-time equivalent employment) in that area, which would provide a productivity measure. Alongside this, the well-being of those living in an area should be measured by household disposable income per head. However, such measures of sub-regional productivity or incomes per head are not yet available for all the member states of the EU. In the absence of such harmonised estimates, the Commission uses the available consistent data.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) currently has no plans to publish sub-regional and local area estimates of GDP on a residence basis. ONS is, however, planning to publish sub-regional and local area residence based estimates of total and disposable household income towards the end of 2001. ONS is also developing sub-national productivity estimates.
	The European Commission and Eurostat are aware of the implications of using GDP estimates divided by resident population as a measure of regional incomes. These issues are being addressed through Eurostat's Regional Accounts Working Party, with ONS playing an active part.

Seven-figure Salary Earners: National Insurance

Lord Dixon-Smith: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the annual salary for an employee paying national insurance contributions required to produce a total for employer's and employee's national insurance contributions for that person shown on the End of Year Summary P14 consisting of seven digits before the decimal point; and
	What is their estimate of the number of employees paying national insurance contributions in relation to whom seven digits before the decimal point are necessary to show the total of employer's and employee's national insurance contributions on their End of Year Summary P14.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: In the tax year 2000-01 where an employee earned over £8.2 million the combined employee and employer national insurance contributions would exceed £1 million. The actual amount is recorded on the P14 end of year summary. I can confirm that this situation does arise but I regret that it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the number of employees involved.

Financial Services Authority

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to commence powers making the Financial Services Authority the single financial services regulator under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government will be commencing, with effect from 18 June 2001, provisions of the Act which make the Financial Services Authority the single financial services regulator, and give it rule-making powers. These provisions will enable the FSA to make the key provisions of its rule-book no later than the end of July 2001 so that the financial services industry can train and prepare for the commencement of the main provisions of the Act no later than the end of November 2001.

Royal Parks Agency

Lord Gregson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the report on the five-year review of the Royal Parks Agency.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The report was published today and I have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses. The report is also available on the DCMS website (www.culture.gov.uk).
	The report's main conclusion and recommendation is that responsibility for the Royal Parks should remain with central government and that the Royal Parks Agency (RPA) should continue to manage them although the department should work towards establishing the Royal Parks as a non-departmental public body. The Government welcome the report and will respond in due course.
	I am pleased to note the report's recognition of the essential role of the Royal Parks Advisory Board in helping the effective management of the Royal Parks by its advice to Ministers and to the chief executive. I am grateful for their contribution, which my right honourable friend the Secretary of State and I very much value. We welcome the initiative the board has taken over the past year in extending its role by providing independent advice on a wider range of the agency's plans, performance and longer-term strategy.

Access Scheme: English Tourism Council Consultation

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether accessibility standards have been finalised for tourist accommodation businesses, as proposed by the timetable set out in the English Tourism Council's consultation document entitled the National Accessibility Scheme, published in 2000.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I understand from the English Tourism Council (ETC) that the results of its consultation are currently being analysed and that it is on schedule to meet its published date of mid 2001. However, the National Accessible Scheme is a uniform standard across the United Kingdom and the ETC are also awaiting the results from the Scottish, Wales and Northern Ireland Tourist Boards consultations.

IR35 Judgment

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Inland Revenue will redraft IR35 to make it more relevant to knowledge-based industries, especially in the small business sector, as recommended by the High Court in its recent judgment on the action brought by the professional contractors' group.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: We have no plans to change the legislation on the provision of services through intermediaries (commonly called "IR35"). The legislation applies generally where people work through a service company or other intermediary. The judge in the recent judicial review made no recommendations affecting the existing law.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Barnett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the average length of time they are taking to answer Questions for Written Answer, with particular reference to the Question for Written Answer (HL410) dated 18 January by Lord Barnett.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The length of time taken to reply to Questions for Written Answer varies from department to department and is not collated centrally. The length of time taken to answer HL 410 in the name of Lord Barnett was seven weeks.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Pilkington of Oxenford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the length of time they are taking to answer Questions for Written Answer, with especial reference to Question for Written Answer, HL381, dated 17 January, by Lord Shore of Stepney.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The length of time taken to reply to Questions for Written Answer varies from department to department, and is not collated centrally. The length of time taken to answer HL 381 in the name of Lord Shore of Stepney was just under 10 weeks.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Shore of Stepney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When, in answering a Question for Written Answer, they are unable to reply within two weeks, what actions are triggered automatically within the relevant department to accelerate the necessary response; what contact is made with the Member who asked the Question; and what additional procedures are triggered after one month and two months' delay respectively.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: When Questions for Written Answer are not answered within two weeks, a response is usually solicited from the relevant department by the Government Whips' Office in the House of Lords. The Government Whips' Office continue to solicit a response until one is received. This procedure is not dependent on specific deadlines such as one or two months, but is continuous. The contact which is made with the Member concerned varies from case to case, depending on the specific circumstances, but there is no automatic procedure to ensure that Members are contacted.

Millennium Dome: Caretaking

Lord Luke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total current weekly expenditure for caretaking at the Millennium Dome in Greenwich.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Weekly expenditure on maintenance of the Dome (covering rates, utilities, site servicing, insurance and a proportion of the IT and staffing support relevant to the care and maintenance function) is currently about £150,000.

Millennium Dome: Caretaking

Lord Luke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many staff employed to caretake the Millennium Dome at Greenwich have been laid off since 1 January; and
	How many staff are currently employed as caretakers at the Millennium Dome at Greenwich.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The new Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has advised that it has always contracted out the provision of major caretaking services such as security, cleaning, site services, and maintenance. In so far as individuals have been directly employed by NMEC in connection with the care and maintenance functions, 11 have left the company since 1 January on expiry of their employment contracts and in line with the planned programme of wind-down. Sixteen individuals currently remain as direct employees of NMEC in the site services department.

Shipbuilding: Unfair Competition by South Korea

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether shipbuilders in South Korea are still beneficiaries from unfair subsidies, allowed by their government, to the detriment of the British and European Union shipbuilding industries; and, if so, what further steps they propose to take in conjunction with other European Union member states to remedy the situation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: We have long recognised the adverse impact that Korean unfair competition has had upon the world shipbuilding market. The European Union (EU) is pursuing, with our firm support, a bilateral/trade remedy to this issue. The EU has been trying to secure a bilateral solution over the last year but, to our great disappointment, this has stalled. In view of this, the industry launched last November a Trade Barriers Regulation (TBR) case against Korea. In the absence of a bilateral solution, the EU will need to take a decision, on the basis of the recommendations of the European Commission's TBR investigation report, on taking action in the World Trade Organisation. If the Commission's examination does confirm the case against Korea and does recommend action in the WTO, we would be minded to support such action, subject to completing our review of the Commission's report.

IT Skills: Mail on Sunday Research Poll

Lord Trefgarne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the opinion research poll reported in the Mail on Sunday in February 1999 and quoted on page 20 of the final report from the Information Technology, Communications and Electronics Skills Strategy Group.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The poll was conducted for the Mail on Sunday and is not the property of the Government. Further information should be obtained from the newspaper.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Lord Rees-Mogg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there have been delays in The Wrekin and, in particular, Albrighton between the decision to cull healthy sheep and their being culled; and, if so, what is the cause of such delays.

Baroness Hayman: Animals were slaughtered on an infected farm in Wellington on 24 March, and on adjacent premises by 30 March, as part of the Government's contiguous slaughter policy to remove susceptible animals exposed to the risk of infection. The delay was due to pressure on staff resources in that area at that time.

Foot and Mouth Disease

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the risk of foot and mouth contamination from a dead carcass; and how long it lasts.

Baroness Hayman: The Government's view that carcasses do not pose a major risk of spreading foot and mouth disease is based on advice from the World Reference Laboratory for Foot and Mouth Disease at Pirbright and the Environment Agency. The Government are also advised on disease control strategies by their Chief Veterinary Officer and their expert scientific group. Experimental studies have shown that the release of the foot and mouth disease virus from infected animals is greatly reduced after death. This is why it is so important to identify and slaughter infected animals as quickly as possible.
	The risk from carcasses is greatly reduced as a result of the procedures followed after slaughter. Carcasses are sprayed with an approved disinfectant which has been shown to be highly effective in destroying any virus on the outside of the animal. Approximately 24 hours after slaughter, rigor mortis sets in, whereby lactic acid accumulates and inactivates virus in the muscles. Virus in other internal organs will be inactivated by the processes of decomposition and is, in any case, situated internally. Before burning, the operations team is instructed to spray the pyre with additional disinfectant to reduce any risk of infection spreading at this stage. The virus is then inactivated at temperatures above 50 degrees centigrade. There may be a small thermo-resistant element of the virus which is also destroyed at 70 degrees, but expert opinion is that this is likely to be insignificant in the possible spread of infection from pyres.

Foot and Mouth Disease

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who authorises the decision to excavate burial pits for stock affected by foot and mouth disease; and who authorises their emptying.

Baroness Hayman: On the rare occasions when it is necessary to exhume buried carcasses, the decision will normally be taken by the relevant regional operations director in the light of advice from the Environment Agency and the local environmental health and public health authorities.

Foot and Mouth Disease

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given that vast areas of traditionally stock-carrying country of Scotland, England and Wales have been cleared of all stock, how they plan to target help to these areas in particular.

Baroness Hayman: We are in discussion with the devolved administrations and the farming unions about a longer-term recovery plan for the farming sector, especially the livestock sector. We shall focus in particular on farmers directly affected by foot and mouth disease who face choices about their futures, and on those regions of the UK hardest hit by the disease.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In which counties in the United Kingdom there have been confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease this year, indicating in respect of each county the date of the first and most recent case.

Baroness Hayman: The information requested, as at 7 May 2001, is set out in the table given.
	
		
			  Number Date of case 
			  of cases first most recent 
			 Anglesey 13 27/2 25/3 
			 Berkshire 2 7/3 14/3 
			 Borders 8 28/3 25/4 
			 Cheshire 11 14/3 10/4 
			 Co Durham 83 27/2 3/5 
			 Cornwall 4 2/3 6/4 
			 Cumbria 681 28/2 7/5 
			 Derbyshire 8 7/3 27/3 
			 Devon 163 24/2 3/5 
			 Dumfries & Galloway 173 1/3 4/5 
			 Essex 11 20/2 12/4 
			 Glamorgan 3 8/4 25/4 
			 Gloucestershire 78 11/3 17/4 
			 Herefordshire 42 26/2 25/4 
			 Kent 5 10/3 2/4 
			 Lancashire 16 27/2 10/4 
			 Leicestershire 4 28/2 23/4 
			 Monmouthshire 21 17/3 28/4 
			 Northamptonshire 1 27/3 27/3 
			 Northumberland 55 23/2 4/5 
			 North Yorkshire 23 7/3 1/5 
			 Oxfordshire 2 3/3 15/3 
			 Powys 42 28/2 27/3 
			 Shropshire 11 17/3 21/4 
			 Somerset 4 9/3 4/5 
			 Staffordshire 47 2/3 9/4 
			 Teeside 5 18/3 7/5 
			 Tyne & Wear 7 26/2 27/3 
			 Warwickshire 4 28/2 25/3 
			 West Yorkshire 3 7/3 23/3 
			 Wiltshire 7 26/2 10/4 
			 Worcestershire 24 2/3 12/4

Foot and Mouth Disease

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will set up a public inquiry into the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease; and if so, what form such an inquiry will take.

Baroness Hayman: The Government are determined to learn whatever lessons they can from the current outbreak of foot and mouth disease. This process has already begun. Following a consultation exercise, my right honourable friend the Minister announced on 3 May a ban on the swill feeding of catering waste to livestock. A consultation exercise on a proposed 20-day standstill period for sheep, goats and cattle following movement will end on 11 June. We will also be examining all of the longer-term issues surrounding reform of the common agricultural policy.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy on transporting by road carcasses of animals slaughtered because they had been found to be suffering from foot and mouth disease; and what cases there have been of fluids or other parts from such animals leaking on to public highways during transit.

Baroness Hayman: Public and environmental safety are the Government's priorities in the battle against foot and mouth disease. To this end, there are strict instructions in place designed to maintain biosecurity at all times, and rigorous disinfectant procedures are carried out on all vehicles used for carrying carcasses.
	Vehicles that enter non-infected areas are those of the highest structural integrity, but clear instructions on what to do in the unlikely event of accidents in transit are provided, including what to do about leaks and how to disinfect the area if one occurs.
	There have, however, been a small number of cases where trucks have not been properly sealed. This is not satisfactory and we are taking steps to remind those involved in the transport of carcasses of the existing instructions. We are also seeking to ensure that those transporting carcasses have access to resources and equipment to permit emergency repairs in the event that any problem occurs, and know where to seek further help if necessary.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Baroness Nicol: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any information on the consignment of sheep that was exported to France in January and tested positive for foot and mouth.

Baroness Hayman: A consignment of 402 sheep was certified for export to France on 31 January from premises in Wales. In early March the French authorities blood-tested 31 of the animals for foot and mouth disease before slaughtering them and seven samples gave positive results. The French authorities have now confirmed that the samples that initially showed positive results have been subject to further testing with negative results. They have concluded that the earlier test results were false positives.
	This explanation from the French authorities supports our view that, contrary to media reports, foot and mouth disease did not go undetected in sheep in Great Britain for up to two months prior to the disease being confirmed.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish an updated table showing the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Britain each week during the calendar year 2001 to date, together with the moving annual total of cases for each 52 week period.

Baroness Hayman: The following table shows the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain during each week of 2001, together with the moving annual total of cases for each 52 week period.
	
		
			 Week Number No. confirmed each week 52 week total reported 
			 1 20 1,837 
			 2 38 1,814 
			 3 14 1,804 
			 4 12 1,782 
			 5 11 1,762 
			 6 12 1,743 
			 7 35 1,733 
			 8 14 1,711 
			 9 14 1,695 
			 10 11 1,675 
			 11 7 1,637 
			 12 14 1,614 
			 13 5 1,597 
			 14 21 1,573 
			 15 13 1,565 
			 16 6 1,559 
			 17 13 1,541 
		
	
	Note: Week 1 is the week ending Friday 5 January 2001.
	These figures are affected by a variable delay between slaughter and confirmation as a result of the various times required for laboratory diagnosis and administrative procedures. The time between slaughter and confirmation is on average six to eight weeks, but may on occasion be considerably longer.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Baroness Nicol: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make available the latest progress report prepared by the Minister of Agriculture on bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Baroness Hayman: A further progress report on BSE in Great Britain was placed in the Library of the House today. The report outlines the measures which have been taken to protect public health since June 2000 and includes the latest EU requirements for testing and surveillance. There is also a section on the protection of animal health which covers controls on animal feed. The epidemiology section shows that the epidemic of BSE in Great Britain continues to decline in line with predictions. The report is also published on the MAFF website: www.maff.gov.uk.animalh/bse/index/html.

Extensively Reared Stock

The Earl of Caithness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was meant by the term "extensively-reared" used in the Statement by the Baroness Hayman on 26 April; and whether, taking into account this factor in deciding the optimum basis for restocking, this represents a change of policy by the Government.

Baroness Hayman: In this context "extensively reared" means deriving a significant proportion of nutritional requirements from grazing land on the holding. This is not a change in government policy. Both in negotiations in Brussels and in our domestic actions the Government have consistently supported extensive livestock production which meets consumer requirements and contributes to environmental sustainability.

IACS Claimants: Appeals Mechanism

Lord Islwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the outcome of the recent consultation exercise into an appeal mechanism for Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) claimants in England.

Baroness Hayman: The responses to the consultation exercise on an IACS appeals mechanism in England that began in December 2000 have now been evaluated and I am pleased to say that new appeal arrangements for IACS claimants in England will be introduced.
	These arrangements will reflect the three-stage appeal mechanism on which we consulted that attracted positive support from the farming industry for handling IACS appeals in England. The decision to proceed with the introduction of the new arrangements is in line with both the recommendations of the IACS and Inspections Red Tape Working Group and, more recently, of the House of Commons Agriculture Committee in its report, The Implementation of IACS in the European Union.
	A good deal of detailed work remains to be done but we aim to work with industry to introduce the new arrangements as soon as we can.

Inputs Task Force: Report

Baroness Mallalieu: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the report of the Inputs Task Force.

Baroness Hayman: The report has been published today. The task force found that across the board, UK farmers do not pay more for their inputs than their competitors in Europe, but competitive trade can be frustrated by a lack of transparency in the market, commercial arrangements and differing regulatory requirements for some inputs across EU member states. It also found that there was a wide range of efficiency of input use and substantial scope for improvement.
	The report contains a number of recommendations for action by both government and industry to reduce input costs and optimise input use. The Government will consider these carefully and publish a full response as soon as possible.
	The report is available in the House Libraries and on the MAFF website.

Hills Task Force: Report

Lord Graham of Edmonton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the report of the Hills Task Force.

Baroness Hayman: The report was published today. The task force has achieved a great deal in three months and we are grateful to its members, particularly the farmers, who have had enormous personal worries due to foot and mouth disease.
	We asked the task force to undertake a scoping study, and it has made a thorough one. It has made a number of recommendations, which we will need to examine carefully: to test the evidence and the value for money, to consider compliance with EU rules, and to hear the views of interested organisations including the other government departments which are affected. Some recommendations are for the longer term. Others might be more immediately useful in helping the industry, and particularly the hills sector, to recover from foot and mouth disease, and we shall need to look at these ones much more quickly.
	The report is available in the House Libraries and on the MAFF website.

UK Withdrawal from EU: Tariff-free Access to Single Market

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 30 April (WA 250), why the United Kingdom's position as a natural entry point into the European Union market would be any less attractive to overseas investors if the United Kingdom were to leave the European Union after negotiating a free trade agreement which was at least as favourable as our present terms of access to the Single Market.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: As Her Majesty's Government have no intention of withdrawing from the European Union, I have nothing to add to my previous reply.

UK Withdrawal from EU: Tariff-free Access to Single Market

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 30 April (WA 250), why the United Kingdom, prior to or contemporary with leaving the European Union, should not negotiate a free trade agreement with the European Union which was at least as favourable as present arrangements.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Her Majesty's Government has no intention of withdrawing from the European Union.

European Rapid Reaction Force

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the European Rapid Reaction Force could be made available to assist the civil power in the event or serious disorder within a member state of the European Union.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: There will be no standing European Rapid Reaction Force. The European security and defence policy will enable the European Union to conduct EU-led military operations in response to international crises in support of the common foreign and security policy.

US Missile Defence Proposals

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their analysis of the implications for United Kingdom and European defence policy and for global security of the proposals for the future of missile defence announced and underlined by President Bush; and what action they will take as a result of their analysis.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: We have studied the ideas put forward by President Bush in his speech with great interest. We welcome the US commitment to further cuts in nuclear weapons and their commitment to consult with allies and Russia. We look forward to consultations with the US over the coming months as their ideas are developed. In these consultations we will take full account of any implications for UK security and defence policy, and we will work closely with the US as close allies with common strategic interests.

Danube Commission

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Danube Commission has yet let contracts for clearing the river for navigation (a European Union-funded project); and, if not, when it intends to do so.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: A project director was appointed in April and tenders for the clearance work have been published. Riverbed surveys have been made and the Danube Commission remains on course to meet its objective of creating a navigable channel at Novi Sad by late summer or early autumn this year.

Gaza General Hospital

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the European Union-funded new general hospital in Gaza is now fully staffed and functioning; and, if not, what actions they are taking to bring it into operation.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: The new EU-funded general hospital in Gaza is not yet fully staffed. The hospital now has between 550-600 of the 800 staff needed. All of the hospital departments are now open, and approximately 160 of the 238 available beds are occupied.
	The hospital, in common with other medical establishments across the Occupied Territories, has an acute shortage of nurses and junior staff. A training college has been established at the hospital to try to remedy the situation. The continuing violence and sustained closures in the Occupied Territories have been serious obstacles to recruitment.
	The hospital's international management team are working hard to remedy the situation, including considering the possibility of part-time working and allocating the more routine tasks to assistants/auxiliaries to free the qualified nursing staff for more critical duties.

Turkey: European Court of Human Rights Judgments

Lord McCluskey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what dates the Government of the Republic of Turkey complied with the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in the following cases, by paying to the parties entitled thereto (i) any sums awarded by way of compensation; and (ii) any awards of costs and expenses: (a) Kaya v. Turkey (Application No. 22729/93) judgment 19 February 1998; (b) Kurt v. Turkey (15/1997.799/1002) final judgment 25 May 1998; (c) The Socialist Party and Other v. Turkey (Application No. 21237/93) judgment 25 May 1998; (d) Incal v. Turkey (Application No. 22678/93) judgment 9 June 1998; and (e) Ceylan v. Turkey (Application No. 23556/94) judgment 8 July 1999.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: Information relating to the execution of the judgments of the ECHR in all their stages remains confidential until the Committee of Ministers decides otherwise by issuing interim or final resolutions. No interim resolution has been issued on matters relating to the payments in respect of any of these cases. Nonetheless, I am able to provide the following information:
	Turkey has paid all sums due in cases (c)--the Socialist Party, (d)--Incal and (e)--Ceylan and within the time limits of three months. On cases (a)-- Kaya and (b)-- Kurt, the sums ordered have been paid but some questions of detail on these payments still remain to be resolved.

European "Reunification"

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 30 April (WA 243), when the continent of Europe was last in the condition of "unification" implied by the Foreign Secretary when he referred to "the reunification of Europe" in his Explanatory Memorandum on the Treaty of Nice.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: I refer the noble Lord to the answer my noble friend Baroness Scotland of Asthal gave him on 30 April (Official Report col. WA 243) that Europe has been divided for generations by wars and the Iron Curtain. Enlargement is an historic opportunity to end that division and entrench peace, stability, free markets and democracy across our continent.

Great Manchester Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 30 April (WA 252), what action has been taken by Ministers at the Department for Education and Employment concerning the impending closure of the Greater Manchester Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre; and how many of the representations made about the Centre's future were made to that Department.

Baroness Blackstone: The Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service (ES) have met Rehab UK on a number of occasions to explore options for maximising funding from ES and other sources. Following their most recent meeting officials will be developing a national specification for delivering brain injury services through the Employment Service's work preparation programme to inform the next tendering round structure in September 2001.
	In addition to the concerns expressed by the noble Lord himself, we have received four letters from Members of Parliament as well as from Mr George Wilson, Chairman of Rehab UK, about the future of the Greater Manchester Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre. Margaret Hodge, Minister for Disabled People, met a group of Manchester MPs on 6 March and also held meetings with representatives of Rehab UK.

Forced and Bonded Labour

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that the International Labour Organisation implements appropriate action against forced and bonded labour and monitors the effectiveness of that action

Baroness Blackstone: We actively encourage member states of the International Labour Organisation to fulfil their obligations and work towards ratifying and implementing the provisions of the conventions covered by the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its follow-up, including those on forced and bonded labour. Forced labour is the subject of the annual global report that will be discussed at the International Labour Conference in June as part of the follow-up.

Benefit Sanctions

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Blackstone on 1st May (WA 262-263), whether they will provide a breakdown of the 701,400 benefit sanctions referred to in that answer, by:
	(a) grounds for the sanction;
	(b) the extent of the sanction in terms of percentage of benefit lost; and
	(c) the duration of the sanction.

Baroness Blackstone: Sanction decisions are made following careful consideration of the evidence in each individual case. No two cases will be exactly the same, so the grounds for sanction will differ from case to case. It would not be possible, therefore, to detail those grounds for every one of over 700,000 sanctions. However, it is possible to break down the total number into the types of sanction which can occur. These are listed in the following table. The table shows the number of labour market sanctions imposed for each sanction type.
	I am informed by colleagues in the Benefits Agency that statistics are not kept on the amount of benefit lost following the imposition of a sanction.
	Statistics are not available on the exact length of each labour market sanction. Sanctions can be of a fixed or variable length, depending on the type of sanction. Fixed sanctions can last two weeks, or four weeks, or 26 weeks. Variable sanctions can last for any number of weeks between one week and 26 weeks. The table shows the length of sanction appropriate to each sanction type.
	
		
			 Type of sanction Length of sanction Number of sanctions imposed from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2000 
			 Leaving employment  vountarily variable 412,180 
			 Losing employment through  misconduct variable 83,108 
			 Refusal of employment variable 74,233 
			 Discharge from HM forces variable 33 
			 Neglect to avail oneself of  employment variable 610 
			 Giving up a place on a  training scheme/ employment programme fixed 16,759 
			 Losing a place on a training  scheme/employment  programme fixed 13,990 
			 Refusing a place on a training  scheme/employment  programme fixed 4,021 
			 Neglect to avail oneself of a  place on a training/ employment programme fixed 4,898 
			 Failure to attend a training  scheme/employment  programme fixed 76,175 
			 Refusal/failure to carry out  jobseeker's direction fixed 15,347 
			   
			 Total sanctions  701,354 
		
	
	Information on the numbers and types of decisions given by Employment Service decision makers on the full range of jobseeker's allowance labour market questions is published in the Analysis of Sector Decision Making, copies of which are held in the House of Lords Library.

National Health Service Numbers

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many National Health Service numbers are currently issued; whether these are recorded on a central computer; and, if so, which government departments have access to the records.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There are currently 66 million National Health Service numbers used for the National Health Service in England and Wales. These are recorded on the National Health Service central register, managed and operated by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Department of Health. The National Health Service Strategic Tracing Service, managed by Sema Group on behalf of the National Health Service, also holds details of all National Health Service patients and their numbers. No other government department has access to the registers.

Prosthetic and Orthotics Services

Baroness Darcy de Knayth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action the strategic commissioning group set up by the National Health Service Supplies Authority has taken in relation to the Audit Commission's report Fully Equipped on prosthetic and orthotics services.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Audit Commission's report Fully Equipped did not make any specific recommendations for the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency about the expected actions of either the Prosthetic Strategic Supply Group or the Orthotics Strategic Supply Group. The Audit Commission's report made a number of recommendations which were essentially for local action and implementation.
	Nevertheless, the agency set up the Prosthetic Strategic Supply Group and Orthotic Strategic Supply Group, which concentrate on purchasing and supply issues, to improve the performance of the NHS prosthetic and orthotic supply network and to ensure a cost-effective and quality service for patients and taxpayers. The groups include patient representatives and key stakeholders involved in the delivery of the service.

Medicines Control Agency: High Level Targets

Baroness Thornton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the high level targets for the Medicines Control Agency for 2001-02.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The high level targets for the Medicines Control Agency are included in its annual business plan, copies of which have been placed in the Library today.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

Lord Graham of Edmonton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have approved the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's fifth code of practice.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's revised code of practice has been approved and was laid before the House today. Copies of the code have been placed in the Library.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

Lord Graham of Edmonton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have approved the publication of the report of the second quinquennial review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The report of the second quinquennial review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has been approved and copies have been placed in the Library today. This was a thorough review of the authority and its work which included wide consultation with the public, service users and providers. The report acknowledges the value of the authority's role in this highly sensitive area.
	The report makes important recommendations. Work on introducing improved quality assurance systems is in hand and we are working with the authority to agree an implementation plan for the other recommendations.